Improvement in vent-stoppers for ordnance



P. B. LAWSON. Vent-Stopper for Ordnance.

Patented Oct. 30, I877.

Witnesses NJETERS, Puowumoanirnm, msumernfo c,

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

PETER B. LAWSoN on com) SPRING, NEW voRK, ASSIGNOR T0 ROBERT P. PARROTT,oE SAME PLAcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN VENT-STOPPERS FOR ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,682, dated October30, 1877; application filed March 29, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER B. LAWSON, of

' Cold Spring, in the county of Putnam and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Vent Attachments for Ordnance,of which the following is a description, reference being had to the,accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

This invention, which will be found especially useful incasemate-ordnance and in between-deck guns of vessels, relates to valvesapplied to the vents of ordnance for the purpose of automaticallyclosing the vent when the charge is exploded, and so preventing escape,through the vent, of the smoke and gases evolved by the combustion ofthe charge.

The invention consists in a special con struction of such a valve andvalve-seat applied to the vent, whereby, while every provision is madefor the free opening of the valve when firing the priming, or whenintroducing the needle which pricks the cartridge to explode the charge,said valve is not wholly automatically closed by the force of theexplosion, but is assisted in closing, and in being kept closed, by itsown gravity. l

Said invention is likewise applicable to breech-loading andmuzzle-loading guns, and may be variously constructed and arranged,accordingly as it is required to adapt it either to the breech orbreech-piece of a gun, or to apply it directly to the firing-chamberthereof.

In the accompanying drawing the invention is shown as applied to abreech-piece, which screws into the gun.

Figures 1 and 2 represent vertical longitudinal sections, respectively,showing the valve in its open and closed positions; and Fig. 3, a faceview of the valve-piece with the valve closed.

I A is a valve-piece, Secured to the inner end of abreech-piece, B,designed to screw into the gun. Said valve-piece is constructed with aforwardly-proj ecting valve-seat, 0, through which and the valve-piecethe vent b passes. This valve-seat O is of an oblique construction onits face, so that when the longitudinal axis of the gun occupies ahorizontal position the face of the valve-Seat inclines backwardly in anupward direction.

D is the valve, hung by pivots 0 within ears d on the valve-piece at apoint or points above. the valve-seat O, and more or less in rear of theforward edge of the latter, whereby the valve is self-closing, andcaused to retain a closed position by its own gravity, said valve beingconstructed on its face to conform to the inclined face of thevalve-seat. Such valve has a lift or range of motion which will allow ofits being sufficiently raised by the needle j, which pricks thecartridge, to admit of said needle, as it is introduced through thevent, passing by or under the valve and the latter may be provided witha tail or other suitable stop, to prevent any excess of the valvesmotion in this direction.

When the charge is exploded the force of the gases thereby generated actupon the back of the valve to suddenly close it, and. to keep it closed,thus excluding the escape of smoke and gases through the vent of thegun.

I claim- The valve-seat O, constructed with an inclined face, and havingthe vent I) through it, in combination with a gravitating valve, D,operating to close said vent from the interior of the gun, essentiallyas described.

PETER B. LAWSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES GARDINER, S. B. NELSON.

